County Receives Funding to Help Fight Car Theft, Insurance Fraud

Westchester County will receive a state grant more than $420,000 to fight motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced.

The money is part of an overall funding initiative of $3.7 million in grants earmarked to reduce such crimes primarily in urban areas throughout the state. Two dozen public safety agencies across the state will share in the grants, and two statewide training organizations also are receiving grants through the state’s Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention program.

“Every year, New Yorkers pay millions in higher insurance premiums due to car theft and motor vehicle fraud,” said Cuomo in a statement. “This funding will help ensure these thieves are caught, these crimes are prosecuted, and motorists no longer have to foot the bill for these crimes.”

Funding for the grants came from a $10 fee assessed on insurance policies issued for vehicles registered in the state. The money earmarked for Westchester County will be split between the District Attorney’s office, which will receive $288,500 from the grant, and the Yonkers Police Department, which will receive $132,950.

Agencies receiving funds must use them “to target suspected motor vehicle insurance fraud and to continue their efforts to combat motor vehicle theft,” according to state officials. This can include “funding either all or a portion of the salaries of assistant district attorneys and investigators specifically assigned to handle motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud cases, pay overtime for enhanced enforcement and sting operations, and offer specialized training for prosecutors, police officers and investigators.”

The agencies receiving grants are:

Mid-Hudson

• Westchester County: $421,450 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $288,500 and Yonkers Police Department, $132,950

Statewide Training Grants

• New York Anti-Car Theft and Fraud Association (NYACT): $62,000
• New York State Prosecutors Institute (NYPTI): $38,800

New York City

• Bronx County District Attorney’s Office: $321,918
• Fire Department of New York (FDNY): $124,800
• Kings County District Attorney’s Office: $238,926
• New York County District Attorney’s Office: $250,900
• New York City Police Department (NYPD): a total of $299,000 to be shared by two specialized units: the Auto Crime Division, $199,000 and the Fraudulent Collision Investigation Unit, $100,000
• Queens County District Attorney’s Office: $556,000
• Richmond County District Attorney’s Office: $50,190

Long Island

• Nassau County: $260,000 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $114,217 and Nassau County Police Department, $145,783
• Suffolk County: $426,243 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $293,010 and Suffolk County Police Department, $133,233

Capital Region

• Albany County: $99,600 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $65,825 and Albany Police Department, $33,775

Finger Lakes

• Monroe County: $190,057 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $111,001, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, $34,720; and Rochester Police Department, $44,336

Western New York

• Erie County: $251,200 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $105,258, Buffalo Police Department, $107,400; and Cheektowaga Police Department, $38,542
• Niagara County: $157,916 to be shared by the District Attorney’s Office, $109,996; Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, $19,050; and Niagara Falls Police Department, $28,900

From Cuomo’s announcement:

The state’s Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention program is overseen by a 12-member board that develops the state’s strategy for combating motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud. The state Division of Criminal Justice Services collaborates with the board and administers the grants, which have been awarded annually since 1997.

Division of Criminal Justice Services Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Green said, “This program encourages police and prosecutors to work with one another in a concerted effort to reduce theft and fraud. Time and time again, this collaboration has proven to be an effective approach toward investigating these cases, but also as an effective deterrent for would-be fraudsters and thieves.”

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (www.criminaljustice.ny.gov) is a multi-function criminal justice support agency with a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the state’s DNA databank, in partnership with the New York State Police; funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state’s Sex Offender Registry.

Patch file photo.